South Asian books have such a special place in my heart for being a lifeline between me and my culture. These works have allowed me to find myself in the characters and immerse myself in worlds that have captivated me. Join me as I discuss my reading journey and talk about my favourite South Asian books!

As always I would love to hear about your recommendations and what draws you towards diverse literature!

Recently I have had this shocking realisation that I am forgetting my mother tongue. I started to forget simple words, finding things harder to pronounce and now, I'm increasingly relying on English to express my emotions. Even my dreams are in English now.

Languages are the cornerstones of heritage and history. It reveals the nuances of a culture. As a first generation immigrant, the loss of my language has been a significant event that has made me question the integrity of my cultural identity. Join me in this episode to learn more about the harrowing impact of losing a language language, how to navigate it and attempt to preserve it.

I was taught to never do something if I can't do it perfectly. I have started and abandoned so many things in my life because I had the internal and external pressure to be good at things immediately. The loop of perfectionism colliding with procrastination impacted my progress in academics and life in general.

I have been taking lots of bus rides lately. Over the last few days in my long bus rides (S/O to the cool bus driver I had today), I had a thing I call a 'Bus Revelation'. I suddenly realised that it is not only important but necessary to be bad at things. It is okay to be bad because it makes you better. Listen along as I share my journey to this Bus Revelation and realise how my art has taught me an invaluable lesson in living life.

'Our names are beacons of love and hope. It carries the blessing of a generation that isn't here to witness you. It bears the weight of a thousand prayers.'

But as we left our homes, we learnt to mould it for the convenience of others. We changed the meaning and adopted nicknames that did not give an ode to the glory of our full names.

For the longest time, my dearest friend Nishat and I have battled with understanding our names; the heritage, history and culture that it carries. We discuss the joys and struggles of having a non-western name in a Western country and how we confronted it throughout the years. Join us as we explore our journey towards embracing the beauty of our names. We hope that through this conversation you can look into your beautiful name and appreciate it for all that it is.

I recently watched the Barbie movie and OH MY GOODNESS... I am still thinking about it. I got into thinking about friends and how my view on female friendships have changed and grown with me. From lying about my favourite colour (it was purple!) to seeing them as competition and now just being in awe of my friends I have really gone through it. My girl friends are my soul sisters and they have taught me so much about myself! On our episode today I go down my journey of rediscovering the power and strength of female friendships.

Also read this incredible piece written by my talented friend Laurissa that changed my mind:https://rissapona15.wixsite.com/laurissablog/post/16-competition-comparison

Go have a listen! Leave your thoughts and a review! Can't wait to hear from you!

Have you ever been asked 'where are you *really* from?'

Did your mind go blank as your body entered complete panic mode?

Guess what? We've been there too! Join my super special guest Ms Daisy Narayan and me as we delve into understanding how to navigate complex questions to define emerging cultural identities. We delve into the influences that have moulded our sense of self, examining the interplay between heritage, upbringing, and personal experiences. From the deeply-rooted traditions passed down through generations to the influences of contemporary society, we navigate the delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and embracing the fluidity of evolving identities.

I have for the longest time wanted the colour of my palms to bloom into the rest of my body. I have hidden myself from the sun and wanted to scrub away at the brown on my skin. Unfortunately, this sentiment is something the South Asian community is too familiar with. Join me as I explore the different facets of this topic by discussing my personal experiences surrounding colourism in our community.

In this episode of the sunflw_rs podcast, we will untangle the negative notions of dark skin from our family and see how it permeates into our society at large. By examining the role of media, and popular culture, we will also critically analyse their impact in perpetuating or challenging colourist ideals.

This episode is inspired by the article authored by Dr Komal Gupta: https://samhin.org/shades-of-brown-how-colorism-is-maintained-in-south-asian-community/

It is not easy to stand between the edge of two worlds.

As members of the diaspora, we are struggling to balance the expression of our cultural identities; especially when they conflict with one another. Join my incredible guest Ms Sabrina Zaman and me as we share our experiences of navigating multiple cultural influences. Gain insights into the challenges we faced, the moments of self-discovery, and the joy that comes from embracing the richness of our diverse heritage.

Welcome to the first episode of the sunflw_rs podcast! We are starting it off with an episode on the understated importance of authentic representation. Ever since I moved to Australia I have noticed the lack of representation of the South Asian community in the media. It is only recently that we have had more talent from the community being acknowledged. But is this really the authentic representation we yearned for?

Listen as I share my personal experiences and insights, highlighting the significance of seeing oneself reflected on screen or in print. Let’s explore the profound impact that positive representation can have on individual self-esteem, cultural pride, and a sense of belonging. Moreover, I delve into the ripple effect of representation, discussing how diverse narratives can reshape societal perceptions, challenge biases, and build bridges of understanding.

Welcome to the sunflw_rs podcast! My name is Reshinthine and I am an artist and poet based in Brisbane Australia. This project is an extension of my poetry page on Instagram where I have been exploring my overlapping identities as a first-generation immigrant of South Asian descent.

Stories are cultural beacons that illuminate our values and history. They let us live vicariously through each other. Despite this, we do not have a platform to engage in authentic conversations about our experiences as part of the diaspora.

I have created this podcast along with my newsletter to unravel this complex topic one post at a time. This is a space to boldly share our experiences, reconnect with our culture and learn to redefine emerging identities. I have so much to learn and I am so grateful to take you along on this journey!